Solar wind interaction with Mercury
Solar wind-Mercury interaction, discussing planet physical properties, magnetized wind parameters and bow shock wave existence
Ness, N. F.↗
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Mercury electrochemical coulometer as a battery state-of-charge indicator
Mercury column electrochemical coulometer as ampere-hour type of state-of-charge indicator for secondary batteries in space power applications
Birchenough, A. G.↗
Experimental evaluation of tantalum/stainless steel mercury boilers for the SNAP-8 system
Tantalum/stainless steel mercury boilers for SNAP 8, evaluating performance
Brooks, R. D.↗
Design and test of porous-tungsten mercury vaporizers
Future use of large size Kaufman thrusters and thruster arrays will impose new design requirements for porous plug type vaporizers. Larger flow rate coupled with smaller pores to prevent liquid intrusion will be desired. The results of testing samples of porous tungsten for flow rate, liquid intrusion pressure level, and mechanical strength are presented. Nitrogen gas was used in addition to mercury flow for approximate calibration. Liquid intrusion pressure levels will require that flight thruster systems with long feed lines have some way (a valve) to restrict dynamic line pressures during launch.
Kerslake, W. R.↗
The planet Mercury (1971)
The physical properties of the planet Mercury, its surface, and atmosphere are presented for space vehicle design criteria. The mass, dimensions, mean density, and orbital and rotational motions are described. The gravity field, magnetic field, electromagnetic radiation, and charged particles in the planet's orbit are discussed. Atmospheric pressure, temperature, and composition data are given along with the surface composition, soil mechanical properties, and topography, and the surface electromagnetic and temperature properties.
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Mariner Venus-Mercury 1973 mission solar proton environment: fluence and dose
A derivation is presented for proton fluence over the duration of the Mariner Venus-Mercury 1973 (MVM73) mission in terms of a relatively constant, low energy component, the solar wind, and a probabilistic high energy component from discrete solar events. An updated correlation of yearly energetic proton fluence with yearly average sunspot number is presented. This correlation and sunspot cycle forecasts for the period of the MVM73 mission (late 1973 through early 1975) form the basis for the high energy proton fluence estimates with various confidence levels. Uncertainties in the probability estimates and in calculation of the scaling with distance from the Sun are discussed. Selection of a particular 95-percentile model as the design constraint is recommended, and reasons are presented for not using the worst-case model. Interior fluences were calculated and expressed in terms useful for spacecraft design.
Thomas, J. R.↗
Mobilities of uranium and mercury ions in helium
The mobilities of mass-identified U(+) and Hg (+) ions in helium were determined in a drift tube-mass spectrometer. For uranium ions, a reduced mobility value is obtained at 305 K and a standard gas density of 2.69 x 10 to the 19th power/cu cm. The mobility of mercury ions is in agreement with two previous determinations. The effect of fast ion injection in drift mobility measurements is discussed, and a technique to circumvent these problems is described. The results are compared with existing theories of ion mobilities.
Johnsen, R.↗
Imaging of Mercury and Venus from a flyby.
Study of an imaging experiment planned for the 1973 Mariner Venus/Mercury flyby mission. Scientific objectives are presented together with mission constraints, analysis of alternative systems, and the rationale for the final choice. The final selection was a vidicon camera quite similar to that used for Mariner Mars 1971, but with the capability of real time transmission during the Venus and Mercury flybys. Systematic high resolution UV photography of Venus is planned after encounter in an attempt to understand the nature of the mysterious UV markings and their apparent 4- to 5-day rotation period.
Murray, B. C.↗
Radar observations of Mercury.
Pure monochromatic waves of a wavelength of 12.5 cm were beamed toward the planet. The echoes were no longer monochromatic because of the Doppler effect of the planet's rotation. A Fourier power spectrum was produced from the echo signals. On the surface of Mercury, the contours of constant Doppler shift are circles, concentric about a point on the limb near the equator.
Goldstein, R. M.↗
Design and test of porous-tungsten mercury vaporizers.
Future use of large size Kaufman thrusters and thruster arrays will impose new design requirements for porous plug type vaporizers. Larger flow rate coupled with smaller pores to prevent liquid intrusion will be desired. This paper presents the results of testing samples of porous tungsten for flow rate, liquid intrusion pressure level, and mechanical strength. Nitrogen gas was used in addition to mercury flow for approximate calibration. Liquid intrusion pressure levels will require that flight thruster systems with long feed lines have some way (a valve) to restrict dynamic line pressures during launch.
Kerslake, W. R.↗
Thermo-mechanical design aspects of mercury bombardment ion thrusters.
The mechanical design criteria are presented as background considerations for solving problems associated with the thermomechanical design of mercury ion bombardment thrusters. Various analytical procedures are used to aid in the development of thruster subassemblies and components in the fields of heat transfer, vibration, and stress analysis. Examples of these techniques which provide computer solutions to predict and control stress levels encountered during launch and operation of thruster systems are discussed. Computer models of specific examples are presented.
Schnelker, D. E.↗
Unipolar interaction of Mercury with the solar wind - The steady state bow shock problem.
The steady state electromagnetic interaction of the solar wind with the planet Mercury is computed for a spectrum of electrical conductivity functions using the assumption that no atmosphere or planetary magnetic field prohibits the direct interaction. The form of the induction is described by the unipolar effect and corresponds to the zero frequency limit of a transverse magnetic (TM) mode. Calculations are included to determine the effective surface temperature of the planet. These calculations include the apparent motion of the sun in the Hermean sky. It is shown that a significant interaction, detectable by a space probe, is plausible for reasonable conductivity functions. The strength of the interaction is considered in terms of the subsurface thermal gradient, and computations are given relating the strength of the solar wind interaction with the conductivity parameters.
Colburn, D. S.↗
Mercury's perihelion advance - Determination by radar.
Measurement of echo delays of radar signals transmitted from earth to Mercury, yielding an accurate value for the advance of the latter's perihelion position. Given that the sun's gravitational quadrupole moment is negligible, the result in terms of the Eddington-Robertson parameters is (2 + 2 gamma-beta)/3 approximately equal to 1.005 plus or minus 0.007, where gamma = beta = 1 in general relativity, and where 0.007 represents the statistical standard error. Inclusion of the probable contribution of systematic errors raises the uncertainty to about 0.02.
Shapiro, I. I.↗
Determination of parameters related to the interior of Mercury.
Discussion of the determination possibilities and requirements for certain crucial inertia-moment and radial-mass-distribution parameters of Mercury. It is shown that the high precision of 1 min of arc, which reasonable bounds on some of these parameters demand, cannot be obtained by either earth-based observations or the television imagery of the Mariner 73 flyby. Some methods are proposed for both landers and orbiters that could determine unambiguously most of these parameters.
Peale, S. J.↗
Alleged Mercury Discharge by the Lewis Research Center
Water sample analysis, site visits, and effluent reports are examined in an attempt to identify the sources contributing to mercury pollution of the Great Lakes. Two sources were identified, Lewis Research Center and Dow Chemical of Canada. Tests were made during a period from April to September 1970.
Rosenbluum, L.↗
Determination of parameters related to the interior of Mercury
Bounds on (C-A)/C for Mercury as a function of the uncertainty in the value of the obliquity are determined. The high precision of 1 min of arc which is required for reasonable bounds on (C-A)/C cannot be obtained by either earth based observations or the television imagery of the Mariner 73 flyby. Among other methods discussed, one involving both landers and orbiters could determine unambiguously not only (C-A)/C but also (B-A)/C and C/sq MR.
Peale, S. J.↗
Ionization processes in mercury discharges
A summary of theoretical calculations of the ionization processes in mercury plasma is presented. Various possible ionization processes are analyzed and discussed. It is found that the ionization due to excited state interactions is dominant when the degree of ionization is small and that the ionization due to multistep electron impact is significant when the degree of ionization is high.
Wu, F. T.↗
Slosh testing of a spherical mercury propellant tank with positive-expulsion diaphragm
A preliminary investigation was conducted to evaluate the lateral slosh characteristics of a 23-cm diameter mercury propellant tank with a positive-expulsion diaphragm and 17.5% ullage. Data are presented for tank sinusoidal acceleration levels between 0.05 and 0.5 g at frequencies ranging from 5 to 50 Hz. Results indicate that slosh characteristics are highly nonlinear at acceleration levels approaching those in flight, and depend heavily on the shape and stiffness of the diaphragm. Nyquist plots of driving force over acceleration are shown to be a useful tool for determining natural frequency, damping, and modal mass characteristics. A computerized nonlinear least squares method for extracting the modal parameters from the Nyquist plots is described and results of applying the method are presented.
Ross, R. G., Jr.↗